First home game of the season and already decisive, this match between Nice and Châteaurenard will certainly be worth its weight in points, especially for the Azureans who are coming off two defeats without a single defensive bonus, while the Châteaurenard team has just experienced a home loss against Castanet (9-16) after a promising first away win on the opening day in Marseille against Stade Phocéen (23-29). With 5 points on the board, the Provençaux arrive on the Côte d’Azur with a firm intention not to return empty-handed!
On the Nice side, the first two away matches resulted in two losses, at Castanet (33-14) and then at the neighboring La Seyne sur Mer (24-15). They hope to finally get their first points on the board, which remain desperately empty to date. The men of Jean Anturville and Brice Jaffuel will have much to do, Sunday on the Arboras pitch, to overcome a tough Châteaurenard team. Although not one of the favorites for playoff qualification, they will be a formidable adversary in avoiding the playoffs.
Last year, Nice managed to secure their playoff qualification at Châteaurenard, while the Provençals came and achieved a draw at Arboras. This year, no point sharing is possible for a Nice team that has heavily invested in this match to kickstart their season disrupted by licensing issues and the qualification of some new players. It will take 15 warriors on Sunday on the Arboras field in a weekend marked by the global rugby spirit.
